The Emergency Bag

I'm tearing up just thinking about it. It is strange now to think that I had one, an emergency bag, that is. I was so young and knew nothing about the situation I was living in except that I needed to be prepared to leave in a hurry. Even though I was 18 and legally an adult I was still living at home and still in high school. I knew my environment at home wasn't good, but I had not yet realized it was "abusive".

After a screaming battle with Grandpa in which he told me to get out of his house I left. It wasn't the first time he told me to get it, but it was the first time I actually left. I went and talked to someone I trusted, Sister Parker, and it was the first time in my life I shared with someone what went on in my home. They asked if I wanted to stay there for the night, I decided to return home. After that day I realized I had nothing in case it happened again and I decided not to come home that night. I grabbed an old backpack and put together my bag and kept it in the trunk of my car.

In my bag I had a change of clothes, pajamas, socks, a pair of shoes, a blanket, pictures that brought me comfort, toiletries I might need, a notebook and an old set of scriptures. I don't remember for sure. I also tucked away $20 when I had it extra.

There is an article on Oprah.com that talks more about an emergency bag and what to have in it if you are thinking about leaving an abusive relationship. Click here to read article.